US rapper Cee Lo Green pleads not guilty on ecstasy charge

LOS ANGELES - Grammy-winning US rapper Cee Lo Green pleaded not guilty Monday to giving a woman ecstasy before going back to her hotel, but was not charged with attempted rape.

A lawyer for the musician and producer, who is a judge on US talent show "The Voice," expressed satisfaction that sexual assault charges were not brought.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's office said Green "allegedly slipped ecstasy to a 33-year-old female while the two were dining at a downtown Los Angeles" restaurant in July last year.

"The two later went back to the woman's hotel. Prosecutors declined to file a charge of rape of an intoxicated person, citing insufficient evidence," it added.

Green's defence attorney Blair Berk said: "We are pleased that the Los Angeles County District Attorney has completed its investigation and concluded that the evidence did not support the false and unfounded claims made over a year ago."

Any sexual contact between the two was consensual, she told the TMZ celebrity news website.

"As it relates to the one charge of furnishing or sharing ecstasy, Mr. Green will responsibly address that matter in a court of law," she added.

TMZ said that the alleged victim claimed to have taped the singer talking about the incident. He said nothing about slipping ecstasy into her drink, but did reference the drug, it said, adding that prosecutors view the tape as a confession.